AhlulBayt News Agency - The ISIS terror group has appointed a new leader for its branch in West Africa, the Nigeria-based Boko Haram.
ISIS announced the appointment of Abu Musab al-Barnawi, former Boko Haram's spokesperson in one of its magazines.
Al-Barnawi replaced Abubakar Shekau, who became the leader of Boko Haram in 2009.
The replacement comes after rumours spread that Shekau had been killed or replaced as the leader has not made a verified video appeareance for the past year.
In March 2016, Boko Haram was believed to have released a video featuring Shekau. However, the unusual poor quality of the footage raised suspicions over its authenticity. Furthermore, the video was only shared on YouTube, rather than on Twitter accounts affiliated with Boko Haram's ally, ISIS.
Boko Haram started a campaign of militancy in Nigeria in 2009 with the aim of toppling the central government. It has so far taken the lives of at least 20,000 people and forced over 2.5 million others from their homes.
The group recently pledged allegiance to Daesh, which is operating mainly in Syria and Iraq.
The mass abduction in 2014 of 276 female students by Boko Haram first brought global attention to the group.
Boko Haram has spread its attacks from northeastern Nigeria into neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
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